Review Vacancy
AgencyEnvironmental Conservation, Department of
TitleAssistant Director Forest Ranger Services
Occupational CategoryAdministrative or General Management
Bargaining UnitM/C - Managerial/Confidential (Unrepresented)
Salary RangeFrom $103870 to $131298 Annually
Duties Description The Assistant Director (AD) of Forest Rangers Services is the police rank of Colonel within the Division of Forest Protection and answers directly to the Director of Forest Ranger Services.
Current responsibilities of the Assistant Director are as follows:
Command and Administration of Division of Forest Protection
This responsibility includes the work of representing or assisting the Division Director with supervision and administration of the division. Some examples of this are providing oversight of Branch Majors, Regional Program captains, Central Office administrative staff, duty officer assignments; meetings with other DEC divisions to coordinate procedures and responses to DEC mission; reviewing, editing and drafting Division procedures; overseeing the preparation and publishing of the Annual Report; direct oversight of the Assistant Forest Ranger program; problem solving, subject matter expertise, Foil coordination and responses; Duty Supervisor, representing the Director or Deputy Commissioner when they are not available.
State Representative for Wildfire Prevention and Control
This responsibility involves being the primary contact between New York State and other states, forest fire compacts and federal agencies involved with wildfire prevention and control. The Department is assigned as the lead-agency in the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) and, as such, must have an active mitigation plan to prevent and control wildfire in New York State (NYS). Work includes corresponding with other agencies; reviewing policies, procedures and new technologies; attending multi-jurisdiction meetings and
representing New York’s interests at all levels.
General Oversight of Division’s Wildfire Program
General oversight of the Division’s Wildfire Management Officer (FMO) involves coordinating wildfire, prescribed fire, fire prevention and mitigation projects. The division received over $1.2 million annually from the US Forest Service for wildfire projects in NYS and for NYS to support national wildfire response. The coordination of agency and volunteer firefighters for in-state and out-of-state fire responses is accomplished by the Division’s Wildfire Management Administration Specialist, who is supervised by the AD. The Division’s GIS Specialist is also supervised by the AD. The AD also manages the division’s fire reporting system.
Emergency Management Unit
This involves assisting the Department and the Director of DEC’s Emergency Management Unit (EMU), with developing procedures to implement the Department’s Emergency Management Policy. Responsibilities include representing the DEC at the State Office of Emergency Management (SOEM), coordinating DEC’s response to emergencies at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), coordinating DEC resources and response to significant emergencies and developing situational reports on emergency responses for executives.
Division Internal Investigations
The AD will be responsible for investigating personnel complaints and conducting internal investigations. The AD will report to the Division Director on formal complaints made against Division members. This involves interviewing complainants and witnesses; explaining the division’s internal complaint procedure to complainants; collecting evidence and reviewing documents; interrogating division members; developing and maintaining the complaint investigation file; reviewing investigations with DEC attorney, Office of Labor Relations, and the Division Director. The AD will also review and determine preventability of division motor vehicle accidents.
Minimum Qualifications Must be a qualified employee of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and have had one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as a Forest Ranger 3 or a Forest Ranger 4. You must also sign up to take the next Assistant Director Forest Ranger Services Exam when it is held.
Additional Comments Must have a valid driver’s license or demonstrate the ability to meet the transportation needs of the position.
Must be able to work in remote areas.
Must be able to work in adverse weather conditions.
Travel may be required.
Overtime may be required.
Overnight travel may be required.
Weekends and holidays may be required.
Must be available for emergency response.
Must be available to respond to after-hours emergencies.
Must provide 24-hour response on a rotational basis and work during normal business hours.
Telecommuting may be available, will be discussed at interview.
We offer a work-life balance and a generous benefits package, worth 65% of salary, including:
• Holiday & Paid Time Off
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Pension from New York State Employees’ Retirement System
• Shift & Geographic pay differentials
• Affordable Health Care options
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
• NYS Deferred Compensation plan
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, and U.S. Savings Bonds
• And many more...
For new State employees appointed to graded positions, the annual salary is the hiring rate (beginning of the Salary Range) of the position. Promotion salaries are calculated by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law, OSC Payroll rules and regulations and negotiated union contracts.
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Our work would not be possible without the diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and abilities of our employees. DEC is committed to developing a workforce which represents the diverse population of New York State. DEC embraces a diverse and inclusive work environment by encouraging all individuals, including those with disabilities, to apply to open positions at the agency.
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.